Roger Clemens pitched six shutout innings in Triple-A on Monday and the 44-year-old appears on track to start for the Yankees this weekend at Boston or next week at Chicago. Team executive Billy Connors, who has been following Clemens, declared him "ready to go," although the club has yet to announce a return date.

Manager Bob Melvin will decide after a Monday bullpen session whether Randy Johnson is ready to join the Arizona Diamondbacks rotation or needs one more minor league rehabilitation start. Also on the farm, Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang didn't allow a hit over five scoreless innings in an extended spring training game Saturday.

Shortstop Jhonny Peralta agreed to a one-year contract Thursday with the Indians. Peralta hit .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBI last year in his first full season in the majors. Elsewhere, left-hander C.J. Wilson, catcher Gerald Laird and outfielder Jason Botts have agreed to terms on 2006 contracts with the Texas Rangers.

Almost certain he's stepping down after 10 years as New York Yankees pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre had harsh words Wednesday for George Steinbrenner. Stottlemyre criticized the schism between the team's New York and Tampa, offices and said manager Joe Torre's job status shouldn't be questioned.

Jaret Wright won his first start in nearly four months and Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield homered, helping the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5-2 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory.

The New York Yankees signed right-hander Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract Wednesday, turning to yet another discarded pitcher to fill their injury-ravaged rotation. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks designated slumping outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment on Wednesday and purchased the contract of top prospect Conor Jackson.

With an offer in hand from the New York Mets, Pedro Martinez will wait to see what the New York Yankees do before deciding where he'll play next year. The free-agent ace, who has spent the past seven years in Boston, isn't close to making a decision, a person close to Martinez said Tuesday.

Pedro Martinez visited the enemy Tuesday, meeting with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner at New York's spring training complex in Tampa Taking aim at the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, Steinbrenner talked at Legends Field with the free-agent right-hander.